The Story of Pfc. Stanley W. Shirley, 3rd Infantry Division, Alsace

[Jürg]

Well this story begaun back in the early 90's, when a friend of mine discovered an inscription on a bunker wall. The bunker was on hill 672 on the mountain called "Hohe Schwaertz" which played a vital role during the German counter attack known as operation Hawk in Dec. 1944.

I thought I would share this story here as well as last Monday, the story was complete after 16 years of continuing research to contact the soldier who left his mark on that bunker wall.

below is the Bunker entrance and the inscription.

[Jürg]

>The inscription was made by PFC Stanley Shirley. <O></O>
Pfc. Stanley W. Shirley, HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division saw action in Italy and was fighting near Cisterna, where he was credited with capturing 26 German prisoners. Pfc. Shirley later fought in Alsace, France and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for actions during the Battle of the Colmar Pocket. He also got the EAME Campaign Medal with Arrowhead, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War 2 Victory Medal. <O></O>
</O>

[Jürg]

After the German counterattack, known as “Operation Habicht” (Operation Hawk) from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14 1944 failed, the 3rd Infantry Division relieved the 36th Division in this sector. Pfc. Shirley was in one of the German Bunkers built in 1915 on top of Hill 672 on Hohe Schwaertz on December 17, 1944. He wrote his name and address to one of the Bunker walls while on watch. Mr. A. Hugel from Riquewihr, who was 14 years old when elements of the 36th Division liberated his town on December 5, 1944, found the inscription and tried for 16 years to get in touch with a relative, to request more information as well as a photo of Stanley. In 1996 he wrote a letter to Stanley but unfortunately never got a reply from him. In November 2000, Stanley Shirley past away without sending any reply to Mr. Hugel’s information request. Now in September 2012, I was finally successful to contact one his son’s and obtain a photo and more information.

[petopoint]

WWII's hero

Sounds like he was the SGT. York of WWII. Capturing twenty six prisoners, sounds pretty impressive. Thanks for the photo and back story.

[Paul G]

Great research! quite a man indeed!

PG-

[N.C. Wyeth]

Good job!

Wow - 16 years of following up . . . and such a great story to go with it!

Awesome work!

[thatswar1944]

great work and very well done for the patience in getting to the end of this saga
Wayne